The website of Iran's Parliament has published a report describing the critical situation of the country's wetlands. According to the report: "The wetlands of Oroumiyeh, Anzali, Shadegan, Hamoon and Gavkhoni are approaching the red line or have already passed it."

The report adds that six wetlands are already on the Montero list of endangered wetlands.

The report goes on to add that anywhere from 20 to 80 percent of Iran's 40 wetlands, have been dried out, and it names "industrial and residential development, power generation and unsustainable exploitation as top causes of their destruction."

Abbas Rejai, the head of Parliament's Agriculture and Natural Resources Commission, says drought together with the indiscriminate and uncalculated exploitation of wetlands and lakes have led to their gradual death.